I hadn't tried authentic Yucatán food until coming to Poc-Chuc, but I loved my experience here. The hostess that greeted, seated and then checked on us throughout the meal was friendly and accommodating. After taking our orders, she brought us complementary chips and salsa. I ordered the Poc Chuc entree which came with black bean purée, grilled onions, rice and tortillas. The pork was flavorful and I enjoyed the black bean purée, which I'm told is specifically authentic to the Yucatán Peninsula. For $16, it was a generous serving - I went home with a takeout box. I'm definitely coming here again! read more

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Came here over the weekend after seeing multiple tiktoks raving about this place. It's a hole in the wall and was dirty. I ordered the sampler and everything that came on the platter tasted the same, and it was decent but nothing I'd tell others they had to try. My friend ordered the poc -chuc and I tasted it as well. She liked the rice but wasn't blown away by the pork shoulder. She was expecting something different. Our table was dirty with food stains. We thought the server would clean the table but she didn't and she put our silverware on the table without a napkin. We were both grossed out. Guess we are not hood in the wall kind of people lol read more

Was excited to go here for lunch based on the reviews. We got there at noon on a saturday and it was clears that the restaurant had closed. I tried calling but their voice mail was totally full. There was no sign on the door. I believe they are closed. read more

Updating to 5 stars after returning to try a different dish. This time I ordered the chicken mole, which they are apparently known for, and a pollo pibil taco (slow braised chicken). Both were well executed. I am not a mole guy, but the chicken was tender, juicy, and delicious, and the sauce managed to maintain a richness while not being sweet. It was simple ingredients done well. The pollo pibil was also excellent, with the chicken again cooked perfectly. The fresh tortillas also continue to be standouts. When you come, be sure to order the right dishes! read more

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large portions with generous amount of meat. we were impressed by how flavorful the chimole de pavo was in particular. the poc chuc was overly charred for our taste. read more

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Some tastes evoke long buried memories. The food of the Maya does that for me. Reading the menu presented a problem. Too many wonderful choices. This is going to be fun. After way too long food is ordered and quickly delivered. Opening the bag and the air on a chilly SF night blooms sweet and fragrant. Red onions. The tostados, 3, were a blur of bites and lime squeezes, the Poc Chuc was like a plane ticket to Chichen Itza. Joy. Sorry not to get our torta. Next time Enjoy! read more

A new favorite place in the Mission. The Chimole de Pavo was rich and bursting with a nutty umami, the tortillas that came with it were some of the best I've ever had. Less sweet than some other moles I've had. The plantains were also exceptional, sweet and flavorful, perfectly fried. The Mayan Platter was a fun way to try a few new dishes - my favorites were the salbuto and the empanada. Service was quick, decor was no frills classic. A great spot! read more

Stopped in after a film at the Roxie a few blocks away, based on Yelp reviews. The reviews were spot- on: great food, friendly and efficient service. I had the chicken in mole sauce, a friend had the poc-chuc. Very tasty! read more

I tried it for the first time a two months ago and got really worried that they had closed. The complimentary red tomato salsa is the nicest complimentary salsa I have had in a long time. The tomatoes were properly charred to construct a complex flavor. Some might find it lacking salt, but I found it plenty flavorful. Husband and I ordered poc chuc and mole chicken. We were very satisfied with the two huge platters of meat bursting with flavor. The food here just makes you happy. I would love to go back for panuchos. read more

This place is a homey restaurant with absolutely delicious food. The mole was delicious with the perfect amount of sweetness. The free chips were nice and thick and the two salsas were amazing. Service was also very friendly. read more

One of my new favorite restaurants! This is a hole in the wall type spot with amazing food. I've tried their pollo pibil and pollo en mole and both were super tasty, although the pollo pibil was my favorite. So comforting and flavorful. I don't know how they get their chicken to be so tender, but it's so soft and falls off the bone. The chips & salsa was also delicious. read more

Poc-Chuc - Pollo en Mole - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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For so long I've seen the sign on this establishment whilst driving by on South Van Ness. Mayan cuisine? Okay, that sounds hella interesting! Personally, I've had the opportunity to dine in (in pre-COVID-19 times) and the ambience was just so homey. The employees are a family: father, mother, and teenage son. This is home-cooking to its core and the flavours and portions def prove it. During these times I make it a point to order takeaway from here whenever I have to be in or passing through that part of SF. The pollo pibil is authentic af and so dang tasty! Pollo rostizado will get your RIGHT together! Def go for the Mayan platter, chock-a-block full will various tortilla finger foods. This restaurant...nay, this GEM , has worked so hard to stay afloat and operating during the pandemic and I highly suggest calling ahead to place your order--it'll be ready in a timely fashion. ¡Buen provecho! read more

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Had a chochinita pibil burrito and it's probably one of the best burritos I've had in the last little while. It just came together really well and the pork was tender and flavorful. Their salsa's are also excellent, with one of them being quite hot so be ware. I'll have to go back to try the poc-chuc itself. Also, even at like 5:30 on a tuesday there was a DJ and flashing lights inside so I think this place is always a vibe. read more

I have attempted to come here for lunch 3 different times over the course of the last 8 years and every single time I have tried to go (between 12-1pm) during listed business hours, they have been closed. I didn't even attempt to go during the pandemic so this isn't a lockdown issue. Today was the 3rd strike, I give up. read more

Easy 5 stars! On a Friday evening, there were plenty of open tables indoors and outdoors. They gave us chips and two types of salsa, one of them was super spicy, chips were thick and looked homemade. I got to try the braised chicken. Meat was fall off the bone tender and came with rice, brothy sauce, and a bowl of black beans. The poc chuc was super flavorful as well and grilled to perfection. Their tortillas were chewy and thick and stayed warm. Price was very reasonable, service was nice, they even have a karaoke setup! read more

BOMB!!!! WOW! This place is the best authentic Mayan food in SF! With the Veggie Trio, you get tons of vegetables, two salsa options (hella hot and mild tomato), kind service, beer, outdoor seating, and a to go box... what else do you need? Delicious! read more

Poc-Chuc - Veggie Trio - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ok so Bear and I were in SF about 3 years ago and we ended up in a fantastic little hole in wall that offered whole fried fish. It was amazing and we never forgot the fish, but we did forget the name of the place. This time we visited we searched for whole fried fish in the vicinity we knew we were in and we ended up here. At first quite disappointed because the second we stepped in we knew this wasn't the same place, and we had ordered takeout so it was too late to back out. But when we actually tired the food, we realized this it was even better than last time. I highly recommend this place. The plates are beyond generous and beyond delicious. Plus they have this spicy salad that I have never tasted before. I wouldn't even know what to associate it with. A complete new flavor in my life, so spicy it might kill you, just how I like it. Will definitely be back. Absolutely recommend this place! read more

Great food, unpretentious, good atmosphere. When I went (Sunday evening) there was a live DJ with lights. It's the most fun I've had in a while, Pepas and reggaeton bumping while eating some really great poc chuc. The poc chuc plate comes with a lemon-marinated sliced cabbage, grilled onions, a savory veggie bullion rice, black bean puree, and some really fresh made tortillas (not your taqueria's tortillas! We're talking almost a quarter inch thick). And a couple lime wedges and salsa, of course. Tasty sangria. Not much to say about that other than that it was good, but a little light in portion (contrary to the entree, which was generous in portion). This place specializes in Yucatecan/Mayan food and a well-studied friend of mine says they have the best molé in town. Take that as you will, but I'll be trying the mole next time. Highly recommended! read more

I went today with some friends. We went there to get something not too heavy. We ordered something to share among the three of us. It was a veggie item. It had two veggie panuchos and a veggie empanada. The veggies were so good! They were like grilled and just tasted yummy. My friends really liked them too. It also had like pickled red onion and like a type of coleslaw. I saw pictures of other dishes they serve and the pictures of the food looked amazing. Oh, I almost forgot they brought us chips and salsa before we ordered. The chips with the two different hot sauces they brought out were very good. The inside of the restaurant is not fancy at all. It's a very casual place. We actually sat outside which was nice as the weather, although not warm was still mild. The server was polite and the lady who brought our food was nice too. What we had was delicious and I would like to try more items, so I definitely want to come back. read more

The best tacos in SF!! And this is coming from a taco loving fanatic. :) Must try menu items: slow stewed pork and carne asada tacos. read more

Poc-Chuc - Slow stewed pork taco + carne asada taco - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had the veggie trio here and it was very good. The woman working front of house was very nice, but it is a small place with karaoke and can get quite loud. read more

Very courteous and attentive young gentleman going around helping the customers. I got the turkey mole and really appreciated how fresh and flavorful everything was. Yes, even the rice was perfectly seasoned and not just forgettable like most places! The mole was more of a soup consistency but still quite tasty and the amount of turkey was generous! You can tell that tortillas were handmade with lots of love! Impressed and glad I was able to pay them a visit! read more

Poc-Chuc - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One of my very favorite restaurants in the Mission! I love their small plates, which are delicious and filling, and I've also heard great things about their full dinner menu. The staff is welcoming and friendly, and I like the simple but warm ambiance. Such a great spot! read more

This place doesn't try to do anything it's not. It's a fast cheap place for food. Was I savvy enough to know this was mayan cuisine and not mexican, not really. Did I enjoy it though? You bet I did. read more

I came in person to order takeout and was initially taken aback by what looked like a karaoke party in the middle of the restaurant. What I'll say is don't let the loud music deter you! This place is one of the better Mexican restaurants I've been to in SF, and they specialize in Yucatán food. They're known for their poc chuc (grilled pork) and pibil, but personally I thought their mole (I was recommended the pollo en mole by the server) was the absolute star! The chicken was so tender and juicy, and the mole sauce was sweet but well balanced. That being said, everything we ordered was delicious and very reasonably priced. I'll be back to try out more of their menu. They also have a sizable parklet for those that prefer outdoor seating. read more

I had high hopes as this institution was blessed by the Eater SF as one of the essential 38 restaurants. My dreams came crashing down when i took my first bite of the pollo pibil. While the chicken was extremely tender, it lacked much taste. I also wouldn't say the place was the cleanest as the tables were sticky. Would recommend looking elsewhere if you're looking for some amazing Mexican food as there are tons within walking distance. read more

Most things we got were delicious. However we I can't get over the shrimp ceviche.... It was not deveined and cleaned at all. Shrimp were whole and still translucent, probably because prices were so big. All in all completely unappetizing and was afraid I'd get sick if I ate it. Unfortunate. read more

This place is not closed, I went there today. Had empanadas, panuchos, and micheladas. Everything was top notch and homemade, even the chips. Guac was made fresh. Only two blocks from 16th Street BART station. I will definitely be back to try to the rest of the menu. Also, I went on a Saturday early evening and it looked like the were setting up a DJ booth with speakers and lights as we were leaving. read more

This place rocks! Discovered it during a night out in the mission and now it's my go-to. They have one vegan option (veggie trio) and it's absolutely delicious. Flavorful, large portion (I always split it), and it comes with lots of variety. They also have free chips with really yummy salsa! read more

The best food in all of San Francisco! Truly the flavor is out of this world! The prices are really reasonable, they could be twice as expensive and the food would still be worth it! Empanadas a re a must try! They've got out door seating, good music, and I've felt safe about their covid precautions. And they're so nice! read more

Total 5 star all the way around. Everything was sensational. Very happy with the sauces especially. Try this place out! read more

Poc-Chuc - a green umbrella outside a restaurant - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Had to head over to San Francisco to drop off something and figured I'd catch dinner since I had to be in the Mission district anyway. Happened to see this on yelp and thought I'd give it a go. It's a drizzly Monday night so I wasn't expecting the crowd, especially at 7:45 PM. There were three tables of up to four people at each table. Mexican music was playing on the air which lent a festive feel. The Plantains Frito caught My eye, And several of the other entrées, namely the Poc Chuc, Carne Asada, and Pescadero, so of course I ordered the Plantains Frito, and the Pollo Pibil, chicken thighs w peppers, stewed, with rice and mashed black beans and tortillas. The plantains were beautiful With a dollop of sour cream and a bit of mixed salad greens. The plantains are pan-fried and needed just a hint of salt and pepper, and the salad was dressed lightly with a really tasty dressing that was not sour or vinegary. Good combo. I could've stopped if I finished the plantains, but, Noooo, the Pollo Pibil arrived and it's aroma pulled me from the plantains! The oval dish was HUGE for one person! The woman set down the bow of mashed black beans and a container of tortillas the tortillas looked handmade, are thicker than store bought, and are flexible and great for scooping up the beans, holding the chicken and for just eating by themselves! Aaahhhh. Try and I could there was no way I could finish this entire dinner. I now have enough for lunch and some. My total came out to $24, including tea. Will have to return with reinforcements next time. read more

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really good food. seasoned perfectly, large portions, great service as well. Very reasonably priced especially for the quality of food they are giving you. the outside of the building does not match the inside of the restaurant outside looks scary, the inside is cozy, very comfortable, well decorated. I won't hesitate to return when I am back in town. read more

Anyone who serves a delicious taco on a handmade corn tortilla has my devotion for life. This is my new favorite restaurant in the Mission!

Some of the best Mayan food yet! Had my mind made up on their pescado taco and also their pork shoulder taco which I've had both before and very delicious . So then our waitress says oh the special today is Roja Pozole which of course I said I'll have that! Boy am I glad I did because it was wonderful! A huge portion too, so much had to take the second half home for dinner! 9/3 This place still is rocking out some amazing Mayan dishes. Haven't been here in a few years saw the tables outside the joint and decided let's check it out again and glad we did! The fish tacos were full of fish also had the shredded chicken taco again full of meat and had the pulled pork shoulder taco outstanding ! Thank you Giovanni for great service too!! read more

Poc-Chuc - Fish,chicken and pork taco's! - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

4.5 STARS Growing up, I hated Mexican food. Then again, the only Mexican food available to me were the 10 for $1 Tina's Hot Beef Burritos my mom stockpiled in the freezer along with the Taco Bell hot sauce packets she hoarded in an empty Best Foods mayo jar. Thanks to Yelp and age, I expanded my ethnic food boundaries and now I adore Mexican and all kinds of Latin cuisine. So much so that the three times I did go out to eat last week, I ate at Latin restaurants. Okaaaay, four times, if you count my 2 am Sunday binge at Mexico Tipico (my fav taqueria) of menudo...carnitas and...lengua. But hey, who's counting? =X I've had my fair share of Mexican, Basque, Cuban, Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, Salvadorian, and Peruvian cuisine so the next thing on my list was Mayan cuisine (indigenous part of Mexico). Think rustic and more upscale Mexican food. Poc-Chuc was the perfect place to pop my Mayan cherry. Don't let this sketchy part of the Mission and Poc-Chuc's iron barred windows deter you. Parking was a breeze unlike the hipster parts of the Mission which was a plus. Upon walking into Poc-Chuc, we were greeted by a big friendly smile from the fanny pack wearing owner/manager/waiter and seated in a clean, burgundy and gold-centric dining area; it's not a hole-in-the-wall. Portions are generous for the price point so you won't leave broke. We started out with the Platillo Maya ($10) appetizer sampler of Panucho, Salbute, Empanada, Kotzito & Tostada http://bit.ly/XZYrnI. Even though the Panucho, Salbute and Empanada was generous topped and filled with tender shreds of turkey and beef, the simplicity of the Tostada topped with the black bean puree and queso fresco was my favorite. For my main, I ordered their most popular dish: Pollo Pibil (Dinner - $12), a huge fall-off-the-bone thigh and drumstick braised in crimson achiote and orange citrus marinade and served alongside flavorful vegetable bouillon rice: http://bit.ly/13Nth5v. The rustic chicken and rice dish was soulful and comforting. The velvety, deliciously creamy black bean purée provided with each entree was divine and I couldn't help dunking the freshly made corn tortillas into it. I despise corn tortillas because they taste like rubber bands but these were soft and fluffy. I washed down this delicious Mayan feast with a huge glass of Watermelon Agua Fresca ($2.50) which was light and super refreshing: http://bit.ly/124sr04. Don't forget to check-in on Yelp for a free dessert. We received the flan which was ehhh curdled: http://bit.ly/ZhA2tG but you can't complain when it's free right? Service was just as solid as the food. We were the only non-Natives there but service was just as homely and warm. The owner/manager/waiter checked on us numerous times and packed our leftovers in all separate containers separating the rice from the salad from the meat and from the black bean puree. The OCD in me thanks you, kind sir. Rock on with that fanny pack! read more

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My globe-trotting brother names Yucatán as possibly his favorite place in the world, as much for the food as for the scenic beauty. So when he read about Poc-Chuc on a site dedicated to "expatriates living, working and playing in Merida and the Yucatan," and learned that he could get authentic Yucatecan flavors right here in San Francisco (http://www.yucatanliving.com/food/poc-chuc-in-san-francisco.htm), he immediately started planning his next road trip up here from L.A. Three of us - my brother, my kid, me - arrived Monday for late lunch/early dinner. Considering the hour and that it was a Monday AND a holiday, there were a surprising number of tables occupied. Good sign! We ordered a few "key" dishes to share. Because my kid and I had never experienced Yucatecan food, we decided on the Platillo Maya, which included a range of popular street-food-type snacks. We also ordered the very traditional Cochinita Pibil, and the restaurant's namesake, the Poc Chuc. Let's get the Platillo Maya out of the way first. In retrospect, I would have skipped this and ordered a main course for a few dollars more, or the Trio Tostada for less. It was messy to share, and it was not "more than the sum of its parts," as the saying goes. In particular, one of the five elements (20%!) was simply a tightly-rolled and deep-fried tortilla with nothing of interest about it. But the rest of the food more than made up for it. The Cochinita Pibil - pork chunks in a richly-colored broth/marinade that you could almost taste with your eyes - was tender and juicy and came with rice and black bean puree. This was my kid's favorite dish. We were pleasantly surprised to see it on the menu because it didn't appear to be available on the restaurant's website. The Poc Chuc was MY favorite. The citrus-marinated, thin-cut pork was grilled until it developed a really nice char on the outside. I hated sharing this dish! Along with its accompanying rice, shredded cabbage, black bean puree, and grilled, sweet red onions, the pork made fantastic tacos. Which brings me to the tortillas. The hot, perfectly-chewy homemade tortillas. We SO wanted to ask for a third round but were too embarrassed. Next time I plan to buy some to go. The salsas that come with the chips are interesting. The red salsa is fresh-tasting yet somewhat complex. The habanero salsa is just as hot as you would imagine. My tongue protested yet I continued spooning it onto my tacos. The three of us stuffed ourselves silly - including iced tea and horchata - for $40 and change. Considering my two companions had spent the day hiking around Angel Island and were hungry enough to chew on the table itself, this was a very good value. Aside from the good food and the good value, the general feel of this place is just so NICE. It must be family-owned because I saw some cute little kids there helping out, filling water glasses and checking on the customers. Adorable. Count me as a fan! read more

Poc-Chuc - Clockwise from top: Mayan platter, poc chuc, black bean puree, red and habanero salsas, cochinita pibil, homemade tortillas - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Oh great. Just what I needed, a place to resuscitate my innately gluttonous nature. How could I possibly not like a place that serves so much slow-cooked meat and piles of hot, handmade flour tortillas? Sure, I could convince myself that I had a satisfying meal out of a piece of lettuce with a slab of tofu on top, but who am I kidding? I'll just sneak onto this anonymous block of 16th to the nondescript entry into Poc-Chuc and order the left side of the menu. Let's just say it's quite easy to overeat here. Not that I would know firsthand of course. Ahem. But I will admit the Yucatanean menu is quite robust, and for the first-timer, the namesake entree is a must. First comes the chips - thick, crunchy and plentiful - with a ramekin of tasty tomato-based salsa and a smaller cup of a habanero salsa that makes mincemeat of your tongue if you don't keep it in check (see photo). Thoroughly addictive. Then as an appetizer, I ordered a $4 Taco de Carne Asada, which was a huge pile of marinated steak on a corn tortilla - at least I think it was a tortilla since the succulent beef covered it so completely. Topped with the tomato salsa and a slice of avocado and accompanied by a wedge of lime, it was hard to pick up and maneuver, but I can think of worse things to complain about. It was deliciously carnivorous. But even the steak paled in comparison to the $14 Poc Chuc, which is seriously a pile of sliced pork grilled in a tangy citrus marinade accompanied by a vegetable medley of grilled red onions, tomato salsa and shredded lettuce, as well as a side of rice boiled in a flavorful vegetable bouillon (see photo). It comes with a cup of a silky smooth black bean puree that you slather onto the steaming hot flour tortilla that comes in a stack in a separate basket (see photo). It was like a Latin version of Hahn's Hibachi's Pile o' Pork platter but frankly much tastier. You would think that would be enough considering that they replenished my chips bowl without provocation. Then I faced a dilemma. Checking in on my Yelp app yielded a coupon for, you guessed it, a free dessert. A sensible solitary diner would have ignored it, but I couldn't pass up a huge plate of Caramel Flan, could I (see photo)? COULD I? Oh Lord, please forgive me for I have sinned big time. It was definitely enough for two, but ask me if there was any left at the end of my meal. On second thought, don't ask me. So entranced was I with my dining experience here that I came back with Jamie W. a little more than a week later. This time, he had the satisfying Poc Chuc, and I ordered the $14 Estofado de Borrego, which was basically a robust lamb stew with carrots, celery and onion, along with the rice and black bean puree (see photo). It was marginally disappointing because the lamb chunks were overcooked and needed the puree badly to lubricate them. However, I was a bit more sensitive and ordered the $8 Ensalada Mixta, which was a refreshing plate of mixed greens tossed in a light vinaigrette with cucumbers, red onions and cherry tomatoes and topped with queso fresco (see photo). It was Jamie who gilded the lily by ordering the $4 Kotzitos, five corn taquitos covered in a luxuriant tomato-onion sauce and topped with melted queso fresco (see photo). Oh no, the free dessert came up on my Yelp app again. Imagine that. Can someone have too much flan in his life? I'll let you know when I find out. FOOD - 4 stars...hefty portions of grilled pork and handmade tortillas really make this a great Yucatanean comfort food spot AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...relaxing and very family-friendly but a cut above other Mexican restaurants when it comes to atmosphere SERVICE - 4 stars...they only have one waiter running around but he is fast, efficient and friendly TOTAL - 4 stars...hungry much? read more

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This is a great place....amazing food, super friendly service, reasonable prices! Thank you Yelp for pointing this gem to me. We went here on a Saturday night without reservations and were lucky to snag a table. It's a small restaurant without any frills but if you are looking for awesome food and friendly service, you have hit the jackpot with Poc Chuc. It's got such a great vibe, intimate and rustic...all at the same time. Loved it! We started with a Platillo Maya (appetizer sampler which included empanadas, tacos, tostado and so much more!) For $10 it's almost like a full dish but you get to taste so many different things. Loved the home made salsas...The green/verde one is really hot so be careful. I love spicy things, so for me, it was pretty awesome. For mains, we had Poc Chu (Grilled citrus marinated pork, served with vegetable-bouillon rice topped with grilled tomatoes, red onions and a side of black bean puree) and Estofado de Borrego (Lamb served with grilled veggies). Love that it comes with an order of homemade corn tortillas..they were so fresh and yummy, I could eat the tortillas plain. The portions are pretty generous, so you can definitely share. Between the 3 of us, 2 dishes worked out perfectly. The Pork was the hit of the night...so succulent and juicy, it was a great dish! Note that they have phenomenal non alcoholic drinks but the mugs are HUGE!! I can't emphasize how big the mugs were...One is good enough for 2 people. We ordered Horchata and the watermelon drink between the 3 of us and it was more than enough. Both the horchata and the watermelon juice were really fresh and tasty...loved it. Also, service was so friendly and nice...I can't wait to be back when I'm back in San Francisco! read more

Poc-Chuc - Restaurant view - Latin American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I went to a concert down the street from this restaurant last night. We decided to grab a quick bite there beforehand - totally at random, just because it was nearby - and omg, it was seriously one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. It looks like a hole-in-the-wall, but don't let that fool you. We had the poc-chuc and the chicken mole, and both were divine. The tortillas were fresh and amazing. I'm really hoping I get to go there again. Oh, and as a bonus, the server was also extremely nice. read more